Adhesive applicator



oct. 9, 1956 A: c, SCHROEDER 2,765,769

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR Filed May l, 1952 FIG.5

INVENTOR. ARTHUR C. SCHROEDER Y/wzmw@ Attorney United States Patent OAnnnsrvn APPLICATOR Arthur C. Schroeder, Skaneateles, N. Y., assignor toSchroeder Machines Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application May 1, 19592, Serial N o. 285,445*

1 Claim. (Cl. 118 411) This invention relates to applicators forapplying adhesive or glue to flat surfaces such, for example, as theflat portions of cardboard cartons.

Applicators of the type -referred to are employed for applying andspreading adhesive on the end closure flap portions of cartons in cartonsealing machines, such as the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,660,844,issued December 1, 1953. The adhesive applicators function to apply andspread adhesive on the surfaces, or on selected surfaces, of the cartonaps as the carton is moved relative to the applicators.

This invention has as an object an adhesive applicator embodying aconstruction particularly leconomical to manufacture and which functionsto apply a predetermined amount of adhesive material to the cartonflaps, the arrangement being such that the applicator contacts thecarton aps only during the period that the adhesive is being applied tothe flaps.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevational view of an applicatorembodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5 5, Figure 1.

The applicator consists of a tubular member formed of resilientmaterial. Preferably, the tube 10 is formed of synthetic transparentplastic material. The tube is xedly mounted upon a support 11 attachedto the frame of the carton handle and sealing machine. A rigid member 12is positioned within the tube 10 and is semi-circular in cross section,as illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The convex surface of the member12 is positioned against one side of the bore of the tube and is xedlysecured to the tube by screws 13 extending through an outer rigid member14 through the side wall of the -tube and th-reading into the member 12.The member 14 is xedly secured to the support 11 by screws 15.

The side of the tube opposite lthe member 12 is formed with a series ofspaced apart axially extending slits 16. Normally, the tube 10 is ofcircular, or cylindrical form, and the slits 16 are closed to preventthe adhesive, indicated at 17, Figure 5, from exuding through the slits.The lower end of the tube 10 is provided with a closure member 18, andthe upper end is connected to a hose or conduit 20 extending to a tankor supply of adhesive material. The hose 20 extends in the upper end of`the tube 10, and the tube is clamped to the hose by a band 21 and screw22. The end portion of the hose, extending into the tube 10 is formedsemi-cylindrical, as at 24, the por- 2,765,769 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 icerg a

tion 24 engaging the side wall of the tube in which the slits 16 areformed.

The carton 26 is advanced with an end closure ap 27 thereof extendingvertically in juxtaposition to the side of the tube containing the slits16. The lower end portion of the tube is encircled by a band 23 attenedat one side for engagement by the carton flap 27 and serves to space thecarton flaps slightly from the tube 10, as illustrated in Figures 2 and4.

Upon the `application of pressure on the `adhesive within the tube 10,the side of the tube containing the slits 16 is free to move radiallyoutwardly and in so doing, the slits 16 open-that is, the side walls ofthe slit separate slightly, permitting the adhesive material underpressure to exude outwardly through the slits. Upon this outward radialmovement of the side wall of the tube 10, the tube engages theconfronting surface of the carton flap 27, the flap slidably engaging abacker strip 30 to limit any movement of the carton llap away from thetube. Accordingly, the adhesive material 17 is deposited upon theconfronting surface of the ap as long as pressu-re is applied to theadhesive. Upon the cessation of pressure on the adhesive, the tube 10Iassumes to cylindrical form and the slits 16 are instantly closed landin doing this, the tube moves out of engagement with the flap 27.Accordingly, when no adhesive material is being exuded from the tube,the ap 27 is not rubbing against the tube. This is an important featureof the applicator in that it prevents the tube from being worn off, orflattened, by frictional engagement with the ca-rton flap. During theexudation of the adhesive, the adhesive acts as a lubricant, with theresult that there is substantially no wear on the tube during Itheapplication of the adhesive material.

Preferably, the adhesive material and the material from which the tube10 is formed is chosen so that there is no adhesive affinity between theadhesive and the tube. Accordingly, the tube 10 can be easily kept cleanand, because of its transparency, the operator is advised if the supplyof adhesive is running low.

The function of the semi-circular portion 24 of the supply hose 20 isthat by moving the hose axially within the tube, one or more of theslits 16 may be closed off so that the applicator may accommodate cartonflaps of different vertical lengths.

What I claim is:

An applicator for applying adhesive .to carton flaps and .the likecomprising a tubular member formed of resilient material connected to asupply of liquid adhesive, a band of substantially non-yielding materialencircling one end of said tubular member for engagement by a carton apbeing advanced past the .tubular member, one side of said tubular memberbeing formed with a series of axially spaced apart axially extendingslits, a rigid member mounted in the tubular member and engaging theside wall of the bore thereof opposite said slits, the side of saidtubular member containing said slits being movable radially upon theapplication of pressure on the adhesive in the tubular member toseparate said slits for the exudation of adhesive.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,039,359 Stacey May 5, 1936 2,058,461 Johnson Oct. 27, 1936 2,100,342MacKenzie Nov. 30, 1937 2,243,333 Diescher May 27, 1941 2,598,035Bulkley May 27, 1952 2,660,844 Schroeder Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS447,219 Great Britain May 14, 1936

